Ron Paul: Who Else Is on Obama’s Secret Kill List?

According to the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, Americans are never to be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. The Constitution is not some aspirational statement of values, allowing exceptions when convenient, but rather, it is the law of the land. It is the basis of our Republic and our principal bulwark against tyranny.

Last week’s assassination of two American citizens, Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, is an outrage and a criminal act carried out by the President and his administration. If the law protecting us against government-sanctioned assassination can be voided when there is a “really bad American”, is there any meaning left to the rule of law in the United States? If, as we learned last week, a secret government committee, not subject to congressional oversight or judicial review, can now target certain Americans for assassination, under what moral authority do we presume to lecture the rest of the world about protecting human rights? Didn’t we just bomb Libya into oblivion under the auspices of protecting the civilians from being targeted by their government? Timothy McVeigh was certainly a threat, as were Nidal Hassan and Jared Lee Loughner. They killed people in front of many witnesses. They took up arms against their government in a literal way, yet were still afforded trials. These constitutional protections are in place because our Founders realized it is a very serious matter to deprive any individual of life or liberty. Our outrage against even the obviously guilty is not worth the sacrifice of the rule of law. Al-Awlaki has been outspoken against the United States and we are told he encouraged violence against Americans. We do not know that he actually committed any acts of violence. Ironically, he was once invited to the Pentagon as part of an outreach to moderate Muslims after 9/11. As the US attacks against Muslims in the Middle East and Central Asia expanded, it is said that he became more fervent and radical in his opposition to US foreign policy.

Many cheer this killing because they believe that in a time of war, due process is not necessary – not even for citizens, and especially not for those overseas. However, there has been no formal declaration of war and certainly not one against Yemen. The post-9/11 authorization for force would not have covered these two Americans because no one is claiming they had any connection to that attack. Al-Awlaki was on a kill list compiled by a secret panel within President Obama’s National Security Council and Justice Department. How many more Americans citizens are on that list? They won’t tell us. What are the criteria? They won’t tell us. Where is the evidence? They won’t tell us.

Al-Awlaki’s father tried desperately to get the administration to at least allow his son to have legal representation to challenge the “kill” order. He was denied. Rather than give him his day in court, the administration, behind closed doors, served as prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner.The most worrisome aspect of this is that any new powers this administration accrues will serve as precedents for future administrations. Even those who completely trust this administration must understand that if this usurpation of power and denial of due process is allowed to stand, these powers will remain to be expanded on by the next administration and then the next. Will you trust them? History shows that once a population gives up its rights, they are not easily won back. Beware.

83 Comments:

Who else besides Ron Paul is on the NSA assassination list? Boy, that's a good question, and a scary one. But when you decide to stand behind Ron Paul as I have actively done, I suppose I am on that list--and thousands or millions of other American citizens whom the NSA, the CIA, and the Justice Department has targeted. I have written the definitive cliff notes version of Paul's NY Times best selling book "Liberty Defined." My book is available now at Barnes and Noble as an ebook for only $2.99. There are many books out there on Dr. Paul, but none so inexpensive and accessible. I want every American to have this book, to read and memorize Ron Paul's positions. He never makes a statement, have you noticed, without it being totally in line with the Constitution. Follow him and you'll never go wrong. http://hotairmachine.blogspot.com and prespaul.blogspot.com

Phil I like alot of what Ron Paul has to offer, but I'm not for tearing the hell out of Social Security. We've all worked to G.D. hard to get screwed now. What is his plan to put Americans back to work?

What a President would have said, "I don't care what you military people say. And I don't care what you legal "scholars" say. The special forces are going in to kill everyone around, but he will remain unharmed and be brought back alive. Under the Constitution he has the right to hear the charges and face his accusers. Anyone in disagreement? I'll have - and be accepting your resignation by 5:00pm this evening."

In the age when the dumbed-down public is constantly fed the latest Hollywood heros gunning down bad guys with simplistic vengence and an "asta la vista, baby," the subtleties of Constitutional law are completely lost. Might makes right. That's all that goes through people's minds.

Hi kevin. That utube video should go viral. It totally embodies what Ron Paul represents. He must feel like the Lone Ranger surrounded by a sea of corruption in Congress. Let's see at tomorrow's debate if, Ron Paul will be alotted equal time with substantive questions. Boy if we had some indepth questions requiring details domestically and internationally, the incompetence and policies of the other candidates would truley be evident. Ron Paul has every Presidental Constitutional credential required to turn this disasterous ecomony around.

Perry is a big government politican who supported RomenyCare and changes his views to fit his agenda. Cain worked for the Federal Reserve and he would leave it as status quo. He also was on a trading energy contracts board of directors that went belly up as did Enron. What was his involvement? He has no foreign policy experience. Well, Perry gave the illegals instate tuition brakes and he tried to pass the open borders superhighway starting from Mexico thru Texas into Canada but, the voters of Texas rejected it.

someone asks why 200000 for fine and 15 years ago my sons friend got busted he paid 10000 and laughed because he mayed 20000 a week so i only charged at best 10 weeks. to poorer its incentive to quit and bring out the higher ups. anyone breaking the law taxes drugsgiving free money will get heavy fine obama owes us 6 trillion dollars and our gov't won't impeach him its election year

"Paul Derangement Syndrome (PDS) is a mental condition that, though it was first detected during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, has only now been identified for the dangerous disorder that it is. Also known as “Paulophobia,” those suffering from it find themselves tortured by their fear of Texas Congressman and three time presidential candidate Ron Paul." - Jack Kerwick

people writing should have something to say. Ron Paul is in 1st place now because he has a site with plan s look at some of the others and i did this in montana i did this in texas . i broke the law in texas and still breaking it. if your american you go with my 3 fences' all people crosssing the border to usa car pulled over dogs and soldiers check vehicle for guns drugs or anything else illegal get caught turn around don't come back or we confiscate again.maybe flea bargain take us to buyer. then go home i lied you can't stay. i'm laughing now sounds hard but 2000 marines stopping cars traffic will flow

reprint 5000 per city and 1000 stay there after cleanup. bring home troops 1.5 trillion a year. we have troops every where i'll bet that number doubles. find ways to keep them busy. chain builds fences on border 3 fences 1st a warning 2nd electricution 3rd a bullet nobody gets in. how do we pay?windmills between fences with a electric generator windmills will be every 100' and should put out enough power for texas,arizona, new mexico, north dakota, oregonetc...think of the energy crisis gone in those states. texas has a long run of mountains with nothing there use it sell to mississippi and louisiana.

Disclaimer

RonPaul.com is maintained by independent grassroots supporters of Ron Paul. Neither this website nor the articles, posts, videos or photos appearing on it are paid for, approved, endorsed or reviewed by Ron Paul or his staff.